It takes energy and resources to manufacture things… and the packaging they come in. We need to focus on reducing the amount of energy and resources that are wasted and eventually needed to be dealt with.
I am not a fan of recycling since it shifts the focus from reduction to waste diversion. We need to recycle what we can (and avoid wish-cycling) while reducing what is put into our recycling bins. That means buying things in bulk (unpackaged) and reusing your containers/bags and such. When we reuse a shopping bag or coffee mug instead of a single-use option we have reduced the energy and pollution that production of that single-use option creates but the energy and pollution that would be created dealing with this waste.
BTW – paper cups from coffee shops are NOT recyclable. Don’t contaminate the recycling stream with them – reuse your own mug/cup.

As of July 1st, 2023, the City of Edmonton’s Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw will go into effect – this has been a long time in the making and many of us have been waiting for this bylaw. BIG shout-out to Waste Free Edmonton for pushing this for several years. It is not perfect but is a good step in the right direction – a reduction of single-use disposable items. A win for the environment.

Waste Free Edmonton – Waste Free Edmonton is a grassroots, non-profit organization working to significantly reduce the amount of waste created in Edmonton by stopping it at the source. That means producing and consuming less at the front end, and reusing and repurposing items wherever possible. 
Compost School – “Compost school is a self-directed interpretive site all about how to compost at home, how to uncompost, and how to build healthy soil. Check out a dozen methods (that work great) for Edmonton. Test different compost bins and compost turners. Try the tools. Build a worm composting bin. See a Bokashi bucket. Learn how to troubleshoot when issues come along. Composting is FUN and EASY. Make it successful for you and for your soil!”
Composting Edmonton – a blog that has some good information about leaf molding. You will not look at the mountain of leaves we send away in the fall to the landfill the same again.
The City of Edmonton – The City of Edmonton has done a good job of sharing information about composting and waste reduction – especially through its Master Compost Recycler Program.
ShareWaste – is a platform that allows people to network on organic matter compost by connecting organic matter producers to people that want materials to add to their compost bins. A win-win solution.
There are some great places where you can dramatically reduce the amount of packaging that comes with your shopping. I have listed several below:
Earth’s General Store – a locally owned and operated store that has been offering waste-free/zero-waste/waste-reduced options since 1991. Take your own reused container or bag to refill hundreds of products ranging from shampoo and conditioners to maple syrup, buckwheat to turmeric, coffee beans to shea butter, etc. The vast majority of their products are certified organic and Fair Trade (where that option exists). They specialize in unpackaged fresh organic produce. Locally supplied when possible.
Bulk Barn – a nationwide chain that offers lots of refilling options. They only recently (about 4 years ago) allowed customers to bring in their own containers or bags to reuse. A great option for many items. Mostly non-organic though. PS – their website was not working for me but I am sure that the link I provided should be the right one.
Re:Plenish – a locally owned and operated store offering zero-waste/waste-reduced options. These mostly focus on non-food products – housewares, beauty/personal care, cleaners, etc.

Some interesting things you may not be aware of.

Recycling your disposable “paper” coffee cup? Don’t. Did you know that almost every ‘paper’ cup out there has a plastic liner in it.

This story from CBC The National is a little old but things have not changed a whole lot. The industry has moved towards a ‘plant-based’ plastic that makes it biodegradable. There are several suppliers that are claiming that their cups are 100% recyclable but it comes down to the fact that energy and resources are used to make all of these disposable items that litter our environment, clog up our wastestream, and contaminate our recycling stream. Best to do without them and reuse your own reusable mug.

Did you know aluminum cans are lined with plastic? Check out this video. There is, of course, a very good reason why there is plastic in the cans (reactivity of aluminum with the contents) but that does not address the issue of the leaching of plastic contaminants into the liquid, the toxic emissions of smelting the cans for recycling, littering of discarded cans and thus polluting the environment with plastic AND aluminum, etc.
Look for your beverages in glass or better yet, in bulk. Reuse is a lot better for the environment.

This video is one of my favourite ones about breaking up with plastic and moving to reuables. #BreakUpWithPlastic – it is not a healthy relationship.

Most plastics are made from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are one of the main drivers of the Climate Crisis and Ecological Collapse. Any time that we can reduce a plastic use – especially a single-use product – it is a win for the biosphere.

Rethink – Refuse – Reduce – Reuse – Rot (Composting)

and finally Recycle (and not Wishcycling)